Rob Clarke drops Sask. leadership bid, endorses Cheveldayoff

Rob Clarke announces his intention to run for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Party during an event at the Remai Modern Art Gallery in Saskatoon on Nov. 15, 2017. (Bryn Levy/650 CKOM)

Despite only joining the Sask. Party leadership race a few weeks ago, Rob Clarke is dropping out and throwing his support behind another candidate.

The former RCMP sergeant and northern MP said in a news release on his website that he will be supporting Saskatoon Willowgrove MLA Ken Cheveldayoff.

In an interview with Gormley, Clarke conceded he entered the race too late.

“I still had to pay my mortgage, still had to pay the bills and realizing three weeks to sell the memberships just wasn’t enough time,” Clarke explained.

But alongside his nomination papers Clarke had to pay $25,000 which he admitted he likely won’t get back.

“I’m not sure what happens there, I think they get to keep it, it isn’t chump change that’s for sure,” Clarke said. “There’s a deposit and you have to come forward it and you have to realize the consequences of entering a race such as that.”

Clarke said in a news release that he thinks Cheveldayoff is the best hope to defeat the NDP in 2020 and that he is leaving the race “to avoid a damaging vote-splitting scenario that could pave the way for a majority NDP government.”

“I have always served our province passionately and selflessly, and this situation is no different. Ken is the right person for the job ahead.”